diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index 353b1378216..f1290cbd135 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -56,7 +56,14 @@ static inline int device_is_not_partition(struct device *dev)
  */
 const char *dev_driver_string(const struct device *dev)
 {
-	return dev->driver ? dev->driver->name :
+	struct device_driver *drv;
+
+	/* dev->driver can change to NULL underneath us because of unbinding,
+	 * so be careful about accessing it.  dev->bus and dev->class should
+	 * never change once they are set, so they don't need special care.
+	 */
+	drv = ACCESS_ONCE(dev->driver);
+	return drv ? drv->name :
 			(dev->bus ? dev->bus->name :
 			(dev->class ? dev->class->name : ""));
 }